Chapter 939

939.615(6)(b)1. 1. A person may not file a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision if he or she has been convicted of a crime that was committed during the period of lifetime supervision.

939.615(6)(b)2. 2. A person may not file a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision earlier than 15 years after the date on which the period of lifetime supervision began. If a person files a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision at any time earlier than 15 years after the date on which the period of lifetime supervision began, the court shall deny the petition without a hearing.

939.615(6)(c) (c) Upon receiving a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision, the court shall send a copy of the petition to the district attorney responsible for prosecuting the serious sex offense that was the basis for the order of lifetime supervision. Upon receiving a copy of a petition sent to him or her under this paragraph, a district attorney shall conduct a criminal history record search to determine whether the person has been convicted of a criminal offense that was committed during the period of lifetime supervision. No later than 30 days after the date on which he or she receives the copy of the petition, the district attorney shall report the results of the criminal history record search to the court and may provide a written response to the petition.

939.615(6)(d) (d) After reviewing the report of the district attorney submitted under par. (c) concerning the results of a criminal history record search, the court shall do whichever of the following is applicable:

939.615(6)(d)1. 1. If the report of the district attorney indicates that the person filing the petition has been convicted of a criminal offense that was committed during the period of lifetime supervision, the court shall deny the person’s petition without a hearing.

939.615(6)(d)2. 2. If the report of the district attorney indicates that the person filing the petition has not been convicted of a criminal offense that was committed during the period of lifetime supervision, the court shall order the person to be examined under par. (e), shall notify the department that it may submit a report under par. (em) and shall schedule a hearing on the petition to be conducted as provided under par. (f).

939.615(6)(e) (e) A person filing a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision who is entitled to a hearing under par. (d) 2. shall be examined by a person who is either a physician or a psychologist and who is approved by the court. The physician or psychologist who conducts an examination under this paragraph shall prepare a report of his or her examination that includes his or her opinion of whether the person petitioning for termination of lifetime supervision is a danger to public. The physician or psychologist shall file the report of his or her examination with the court within 60 days after completing the examination, and the court shall provide copies of the report to the person filing the petition and the district attorney who received a copy of the person’s petition under par. (c). The contents of the report shall be confidential until the physician or psychologist testifies at a hearing under par. (f). The person petitioning for termination of lifetime supervision shall pay the cost of an examination required under this paragraph.

939.615(6)(em) (em) After it receives notification from the court under par. (d) 2., the department may prepare and submit to the court a report concerning a person who has filed a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision. If the department prepares and submits a report under this paragraph, the report shall include information concerning the person’s conduct while on lifetime supervision and an opinion as to whether lifetime supervision of the person is still necessary to protect the public. When a report prepared under this paragraph has been received by the court, the court shall, before the hearing under par. (f), disclose the contents of the report to the attorney for the person who filed the petition and to the district attorney. When the person who filed the petition is not represented by an attorney, the contents shall be disclosed to the person.

939.615(6)(f) (f) A hearing on a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision may not be conducted until the person filing the petition has been examined and a report of the examination has been filed as provided under par. (e). At the hearing, the court shall take evidence it considers relevant to determining whether lifetime supervision should be continued because the person who filed the petition is a danger to the public. The person who filed the petition and the district attorney who received the petition under par. (c) may offer evidence relevant to the issue of the person’s dangerousness and the continued need for lifetime supervision.

939.615(6)(g) (g) The court may grant a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision if it determines after a hearing under par. (f) that lifetime supervision is no longer necessary to protect the public.

939.615(6)(h) (h) If a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision is denied after a hearing under par. (f), the person may not file a subsequent petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision until at least 3 years have elapsed since the most recent petition was denied.

939.615(6)(i) (i) If the court grants a petition requesting termination of lifetime supervision and the person is registered with the department under s. 301.45, the court may also order that the person is no longer required to comply with the reporting requirements under s. 301.45. This paragraph does not apply to a person who must continue to comply with the reporting requirements for life under s. 301.45 (5) (b) or for as long as he or she is in this state under s. 301.45 (5m) (b).

939.615(7) (7) Penalty for violation of a condition of lifetime supervision.

939.615(7)(a) (a) No person placed on lifetime supervision under this section may knowingly violate a condition or regulation of lifetime supervision established by the court or by the department.

939.615(7)(b) (b)

939.615(7)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., whoever violates par. (a) is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

939.615(7)(b)2. 2. Whoever violates par. (a) is guilty of a Class I felony if the same conduct that violates par. (a) also constitutes a crime that is a felony.

939.615 History History: 1997 a. 275; 1999 a. 3, 89; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 277; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 116; 2013 a. 362; 2021 a. 131; 2023 a. 224.

939.616 939.616 Mandatory minimum sentence for child sex offenses.

939.616(1g) (1g) If a person is convicted of a violation of s. 948.02 (1) (am) or 948.025 (1) (a), notwithstanding s. 973.014 (1g) (a) 1. and 2., the court may not make an extended supervision eligibility date determination on a date that will occur before the person has served a 25-year term of confinement in prison.

939.616(1r) (1r) If a person is convicted of a violation of s. 948.02 (1) (b) or (c) or 948.025 (1) (b), the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under s. 973.01. The term of confinement in prison portion of the bifurcated sentence shall be at least 25 years. Otherwise the penalties for the crime apply, subject to any applicable penalty enhancement.

939.616(2) (2) If a person is convicted of a violation of s. 948.02 (1) (d) or 948.025 (1) (c), the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under s. 973.01. The term of confinement in prison portion of the bifurcated sentence shall be at least 5 years. Otherwise the penalties for the crime apply, subject to any applicable penalty enhancement.

939.616(3) (3) This section does not apply if s. 939.62 (2m) (c) applies. The mandatory minimum sentences in this section do not apply to an offender who was under 18 years of age when the violation occurred.

939.616 History History: 2005 a. 430 s. 1; 2007 a. 80; 2007 a. 97 s. 309.

939.616 Annotation Labeling this section a “mandatory minimum sentence” statute and stating that “the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence” and that the “term of confinement in prison portion of the bifurcated sentence shall be at least 25 years,” the legislature has clearly prohibited probation. State v. Lalicata, 2012 WI App 138, 345 Wis. 2d 342, 824 N.W.2d 921, 12-0225.

939.617 939.617 Minimum sentence for certain child sex offenses.

939.617(1) (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), if a person is convicted of a violation of s. 948.05, 948.075, 948.12, or 948.125, the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under s. 973.01. The term of confinement in prison portion of the bifurcated sentence shall be at least 5 years for violations of s. 948.05 or 948.075 and 3 years for violations of s. 948.12 or 948.125. Otherwise the penalties for the crime apply, subject to any applicable penalty enhancement.

939.617(2) (2) If the court finds that the best interests of the community will be served and the public will not be harmed and if the court places its reasons on the record, the court may impose a sentence that is less than the sentence required under sub. (1) or may place the person on probation under any of the following circumstances:

939.617(2)(a) (a) If the person is convicted of a violation of s. 948.05, the person is no more than 48 months older than the child who is the victim of the violation.

939.617(2)(b) (b) If the person is convicted of a violation of s. 948.12, the person is no more than 48 months older than the child who engaged in the sexually explicit conduct.

939.617(3) (3) This section does not apply if the offender was under 18 years of age when the violation occurred.

939.617 History History: 2005 a. 433; 2011 a.272; 2013 a. 165 s. 115; 2023 a. 224.

939.617 Annotation The legislature had reasonable and practical grounds for making a conviction for using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime under s. 948.075 (1r) subject to a mandatory minimum sentence. Thus, there was a rational basis for the penalty enhancer in sub. (1), and sub. (1) was not unconstitutional as applied to the defendant. State v. Heidke, 2016 WI App 55, 370 Wis. 2d 771, 883 N.W.2d 162, 15-1420.

939.617 Annotation This section has a plain and unambiguous meaning. When faced with a conviction for possessing child pornography, sub. (1) requires the court to impose a bifurcated sentence with at least three years’ initial confinement. Sub. (2) allows the court to depart from this minimum and impose less initial confinement or probation only if the defendant is not more than 48 months older than the child-victim. State v. Holcomb, 2016 WI App 70, 371 Wis. 2d 647, 886 N.W.2d 100, 15-0996.

939.617 Annotation This section and s. 948.12 work harmoniously together in setting the parameters for the punishment for the crime of possession of child pornography: s. 948.12 sets forth the maximum allowable sentence based on the applicable felony classification, and this section sets forth the minimum allowable sentence. State v. Brott, 2023 WI App 45, 409 Wis. 2d 96, 996 N.W.2d 78, 21-2001.

939.618 939.618 Mandatory minimum sentence for repeat serious sex crimes.

939.618(1) (1) In this section, “serious sex crime” means a violation of s. 940.225 (1) or (2).

939.618(2) (2) 

939.618(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), if a person has one or more prior convictions for a serious sex crime and subsequently commits a serious sex crime, the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under s. 973.01. The term of confinement in prison portion of a bifurcated sentence imposed under this subsection may not be less than 3 years and 6 months, but otherwise the penalties for the crime apply, subject to any applicable penalty enhancement. The court may not place the defendant on probation.

939.618(2)(b) (b) If a person has one or more prior convictions for a violation of s. 940.225 (1) or for a comparable crime under federal law or the law of any state and subsequently is convicted of a violation of s. 940.225 (1), the maximum term of imprisonment for the violation of s. 940.225 (1) is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or extended supervision.

939.618 History History: 1993 a. 97, 227; 1997 a. 326; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 271; 2005 a. 433 s. 16; Stats. 2005 s. 939.618.

939.619 939.619 Mandatory minimum sentence for repeat serious violent crimes.

939.619(1) (1) In this section, “serious violent crime” means a violation of s. 940.02, 940.03, 940.05, 940.06, 940.09, 940.19 (5), 940.21, 940.305, 940.31, 941.327 (2) (b) 2., 3., or 4., 943.02, 943.231 (1), 943.32 (2), 943.87, 948.03 (2) (a) or (5), 948.051, or 948.30 (2).

939.619(2) (2) If a person has one or more prior convictions for a serious violent crime or a crime punishable by life imprisonment and subsequently commits a serious violent crime, the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under s. 973.01. The term of confinement in prison portion of a bifurcated sentence imposed under this subsection may not be less than 5 years, but otherwise the penalties for the crime apply, subject to any applicable penalty enhancement. The court may not place the defendant on probation.

939.619 History History: 1993 a. 97; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 433 s. 17; Stats. 2005 s. 939.619; 2017 a. 309; 2023 a. 10.

939.6195 939.6195 Mandatory minimum sentence for repeat firearm crimes.

939.6195(1) (1) In this section:

939.6195(1)(a) (a) “Firearm violation” means any of the following:

939.6195(1)(a)1. 1. A violation of s. 941.29 or 941.2905.

939.6195(1)(a)2. 2. A commission of any crime specified under chs. 939 to 951 and 961 if the person uses a firearm in the commission of the crime.

939.6195(1)(b) (b) “Repeater” has the meaning given in s. 939.62 (2).

939.6195(2) (2) If a person who is a repeater is convicted of a firearm violation, the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under s. 973.01. Notwithstanding s. 973.01 (2) (b), the term of confinement in prison portion of the bifurcated sentence shall be at least 4 years, but otherwise the penalties for the crime apply, subject to any applicable penalty enhancement. The court may not place the person on probation.

939.6195(3) (3) This section does not apply to sentences imposed after July 1, 2022.

939.6195(4) (4) The department of justice shall, after consulting with persons the department determines to be appropriate, including the city of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee police department, prepare a report on the efficacy of the mandatory minimum sentence under this section. No later than August 1, 2022, the department of justice shall submit the report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).

939.6195 History History: 2017 a. 145.

939.62 939.62 Increased penalty for habitual criminality.

939.62(1) (1) If the actor is a repeater, as that term is defined in sub. (2), and the present conviction is for any crime for which imprisonment may be imposed, except for an escape under s. 946.42 or a failure to report under s. 946.425, the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed by law for that crime may be increased as follows:

939.62(1)(a) (a) A maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less may be increased to not more than 2 years.

939.62(1)(b) (b) A maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year but not more than 10 years may be increased by not more than 2 years if the prior convictions were for misdemeanors and by not more than 4 years if the prior conviction was for a felony.

939.62(1)(c) (c) A maximum term of imprisonment of more than 10 years may be increased by not more than 2 years if the prior convictions were for misdemeanors and by not more than 6 years if the prior conviction was for a felony.

939.62(2) (2) The actor is a repeater if the actor was convicted of a felony during the 5-year period immediately preceding the commission of the crime for which the actor presently is being sentenced, or if the actor was convicted of a misdemeanor on 3 separate occasions during that same period, which convictions remain of record and unreversed. It is immaterial that sentence was stayed, withheld or suspended, or that the actor was pardoned, unless such pardon was granted on the ground of innocence. In computing the preceding 5-year period, time which the actor spent in actual confinement serving a criminal sentence shall be excluded.

939.62(2m) (2m) 

939.62(2m)(a) (a) In this subsection:

939.62(2m)(a)1m. 1m. “Serious child sex offense” means any of the following:

939.62(2m)(a)1m.a. a. A violation of s. 948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.051, 948.055, 948.06, 948.07, 948.08, 948.081, 948.085, 948.095 or 948.30 or, if the victim was a minor and the convicted person was not the victim’s parent, a violation of s. 940.31.

939.62(2m)(a)1m.b. b. A crime at any time under federal law or the law of any other state or, prior to July 16, 1998, under the law of this state that is comparable to a crime specified in subd. 1m. a.

939.62(2m)(a)2m. 2m. “Serious felony” means any of the following:

939.62(2m)(a)2m.a. a. Any felony under s. 961.41 (1), (1m) or (1x) that is a Class A, B, or C felony or, if the felony was committed before February 1, 2003, that is or was punishable by a maximum prison term of 30 years or more.

939.62(2m)(a)2m.am. am. A crime under s. 961.65.

939.62(2m)(a)2m.b. b. Any felony under s. 940.09 (1), 1999 stats., s. 943.23 (1m) or (1r), 1999 stats., s. 948.35 (1) (b) or (c), 1999 stats., s. 948.36, 1999 stats., or s. 943.23 (1g), 2021 stats., or s. 940.01, 940.02, 940.03, 940.05, 940.09 (1c), 940.16, 940.19 (5), 940.195 (5), 940.198 (2) (a) or (c), 940.21, 940.225 (1) or (2), 940.305, 940.31, 941.327 (2) (b) 4., 943.02, 943.10 (2), 943.231 (1), 943.32 (2), 946.43 (1m), 948.02 (1) or (2), 948.025, 948.03 (2) (a) or (c) or (5) (a) 1., 2., 3., or 4., 948.05, 948.06, 948.07, 948.075, 948.08, 948.081, 948.085, or 948.30 (2).

939.62(2m)(a)2m.c. c. The solicitation, conspiracy or attempt, under s. 939.30, 939.31 or 939.32, to commit a Class A felony.

939.62(2m)(a)2m.d. d. A crime at any time under federal law or the law of any other state or, prior to April 28, 1994, under the law of this state that is comparable to a crime specified in subd. 2m. a., am., b., or c.

939.62(2m)(b) (b) The actor is a persistent repeater if one of the following applies:

939.62(2m)(b)1. 1. The actor has been convicted of a serious felony on 2 or more separate occasions at any time preceding the serious felony for which he or she presently is being sentenced under ch. 973, which convictions remain of record and unreversed and, of the 2 or more previous convictions, at least one conviction occurred before the date of violation of at least one of the other felonies for which the actor was previously convicted.

939.62(2m)(b)2. 2. The actor has been convicted of a serious child sex offense on at least one occasion at any time preceding the date of violation of the serious child sex offense for which he or she presently is being sentenced under ch. 973, which conviction remains of record and unreversed.

939.62(2m)(bm) (bm) For purposes of counting a conviction under par. (b), it is immaterial that the sentence for the previous conviction was stayed, withheld or suspended, or that the actor was pardoned, unless the pardon was granted on the ground of innocence.

939.62(2m)(c) (c) If the actor is a persistent repeater, the term of imprisonment for the felony for which the persistent repeater presently is being sentenced under ch. 973 is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or extended supervision.

939.62(2m)(d) (d) If a prior conviction is being considered as being covered under par. (a) 1m. b. or 2m. d. as comparable to a felony specified under par. (a) 1m. a. or 2m. a., am., b., or c., the conviction may be counted as a prior conviction under par. (b) only if the court determines, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the violation relating to that conviction would constitute a felony specified under par. (a) 1m. a. or 2m. a., am., b., or c. if committed by an adult in this state.

939.62(3) (3) In this section “felony” and “misdemeanor” have the following meanings:

939.62(3)(a) (a) In case of crimes committed in this state, the terms do not include motor vehicle offenses under chs. 341 to 349 and offenses handled through proceedings in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938, but otherwise have the meanings designated in s. 939.60.

939.62(3)(b) (b) In case of crimes committed in other jurisdictions, the terms do not include those crimes which are equivalent to motor vehicle offenses under chs. 341 to 349 or to offenses handled through proceedings in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938. Otherwise, felony means a crime which under the laws of that jurisdiction carries a prescribed maximum penalty of imprisonment in a prison or penitentiary for one year or more. Misdemeanor means a crime which does not carry a prescribed maximum penalty sufficient to constitute it a felony and includes crimes punishable only by a fine.

939.62 History History: 1977 c. 449; 1989 a. 85; 1993 a. 289, 483, 486; 1995 a. 77, 448; 1997 a. 219, 283, 295, 326; 1999 a. 32, 85, 188; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 14, 277; 2007 a. 116; 2013 a. 173 s. 33; 2015 a. 197 s. 51; 2015 a. 366; 2017 a. 128; 2021 a. 76; 2023 a. 10.

939.62 Cross-reference Cross-reference: For procedure, see s. 973.12.

939.62 Annotation Imposition of a three-year sentence as a repeater was not cruel and unusual even though the conviction involved the stealing of two boxes of candy, which carried a maximum sentence of six months. Hanson v. State, 48 Wis. 2d 203, 179 N.W.2d 909 (1970).

939.62 Annotation A repeater charge must be withheld from the jury’s knowledge since it is relevant only to sentencing. Mulkovich v. State, 73 Wis. 2d 464, 243 N.W.2d 198 (1976).

939.62 Annotation This section authorizes penalty enhancement only when the maximum underlying sentence is imposed. The enhancement portion of a sub-maximum sentence is vacated as an abuse of sentencing discretion. State v. Harris, 119 Wis. 2d 612, 350 N.W.2d 633 (1984).

939.62 Annotation In sub. (2), “convicted of a misdemeanor on 3 separate occasions” requires three separate misdemeanors, not three separate court appearances. State v. Wittrock, 119 Wis. 2d 664, 350 N.W.2d 647 (1984).

939.62 Annotation A court’s acceptance of a guilty plea or verdict is sufficient to trigger the operation of this section; completion of sentencing is not a prerequisite. State v. Wimmer, 152 Wis. 2d 654, 449 N.W.2d 621 (Ct. App. 1989).

939.62 Annotation Felony convictions entered following a waiver from juvenile court are a proper basis for a repeater allegation. State v. Kastner, 156 Wis. 2d 371, 457 N.W.2d 331 (Ct. App. 1990).